Fisheries and Marine Sciences B.S.

Catalog Department Overview ►

Minimum Requirements for Fisheries and Marine Sciences B.S.: 121 credits

Optional Concentrations: Fisheries Science, Marine Biology, Oceanography 

Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

Credits
General University Requirements
Complete the general university requirements.
General Education Requirements
Complete the general education requirements.35-40
As part of the general education requirements, complete the following:
BIOL F115X
Fundamentals of Biology I
BIOL F116X
Fundamentals of Biology II
ECON F101X
Principles of Microeconomics
or ECON F235X
 Introduction to Natural Resource Economics
MATH F230X
Essential Calculus with Applications in the Life Sciences
or MATH F251X
 Calculus I
B.S. Degree Requirements
Complete the B.S. degree requirements.15
As part of the B.S. requirements, complete the following:
CHEM F105X
General Chemistry I
CHEM F106X
General Chemistry II
STAT F200X
Elementary Statistics
Fisheries and Marine Sciences Program Requirements
Complete the following:
BIOL F260Principles of Genetics4
BIOL F371Principles of Ecology3-4
or MBI F320 Aquatic Ecology
FISH/MBI/OCN F102Fact or Fishin': Case Studies in Fisheries and Marine Sciences1
FISH F103The Harvest of the Sea2
FISH F110Fish and Fisheries in a Changing World3
FISH F390Experiential Learning: Fisheries and Marine Sciences1
MBI F212Introduction to Marine Science II3
OCN F211Introduction to Marine Science I3
OCN F303Data Analysis and Writing for Aquatic Sciences3
PHYS F123XCollege Physics I4
or PHYS F115X Physical Sciences
or PHYS F211X General Physics I
STAT F401Regression and Analysis of Variance3-4
or STAT F402 Scientific Sampling
Concentration
Complete 41 credits of FISH, MBI and/or OCN courses (of which at least 27 credits must be upper-division), including one of the following courses - or select one of the following concentrations. 141-45
FISH F487
Fisheries Management 2
or FISH F498
and FISH F499
 Senior Thesis Proposal
and Fisheries Senior Thesis
or MBI F482
 Human Impacts to the Marine Biosphere
or MBI F499
 Senior Thesis
or OCN F481
 The Ocean and Global Change
or OCN F499
 Senior Thesis
Fisheries Science
Marine Biology
Oceanography
Total Credits121-132
1

15 credits can come from complementary STEM courses (e.g., BIOL, CHEM, GEOS, MATH, NRM, PHYS, STAT, WLF), of which 9 credits must be upper division. 

2

FISH F487, FISH F498 and FISH F499, MBI F482, MBI F499, OCN F481 or OCN F499 will serve as the capstone experience for students who do not choose a concentration.

 

Optional Concentrations

Fisheries Science

Credits
Fisheries Science Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
FISH F261Introduction to Fisheries Utilization3
FISH F288Fish and Fisheries of Alaska3
FISH F315Freshwater Fisheries Techniques3
or FISH F414 Field Methods in Marine Ecology and Fisheries
FISH F411Human Dimensions of Environmental Systems3
FISH F425Fish Ecology3
or FISH F426 Behavioral Ecology of Fishes
or FISH F428 Physiological Ecology of Fishes
or FISH F433 Pacific Salmon Life Histories
FISH F427Ichthyology4
FISH F487Fisheries Management 33
or FISH F498
and FISH F499		 Senior Thesis Proposal
and Fisheries Senior Thesis
Complete 4 credits of electives from chemistry, geology or physics.4
Complete 15 credits of electives from fisheries, marine biology, oceanography or complementary STEM courses (e.g., BIOL, CHEM, GEOS, MATH, NRM, PHYS, STAT, WLF), of which 9 credits must be upper division. 15
Total Credits41
3

FISH F487, or FISH F498 and FISH F499 will serve as the capstone experience for the fisheries science concentration 

Marine Biology

Credits
Marine Biology Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
MBI F219Marine Mammals of the World2
MBI F220Scientific Diving2-3
or MBI F423 Nearshore Ecology Field Course
or MBI F450 Marine Biology and Ecology Field Course
or MBI F456 Kelp Forest Ecology
or MBI F457 Field Techniques in Ocean Acidification Research
MBI F482Human Impacts to the Marine Biosphere 43
or MBI F499 Senior Thesis
Complete three of the following: 59-11
FISH F427
Ichthyology
MBI F306
Aquatic Invertebrate Zoology
MBI F317
Introduction to Marine Mammal Biology
MBI F410
Marine Bird Ecology and Conservation
OCN F453
Zooplankton Ecology
OCN F455
Phytoplankton and Marine Microbes
Complete an additional 25 credits from the following: 525
FISH F427
Ichthyology
FISH F435
Data Visualization in Fisheries
MBI F220
Scientific Diving
MBI F306
Aquatic Invertebrate Zoology
MBI F317
Introduction to Marine Mammal Biology
MBI F410
Marine Bird Ecology and Conservation
MBI F412
Early Life Histories of Marine Invertebrates
MBI F415
Physiology of Marine Organisms
MBI F421
Polar Marine Science
MBI F423
Nearshore Ecology Field Course
MBI F450
Marine Biology and Ecology Field Course
MBI F456
Kelp Forest Ecology
MBI F457
Field Techniques in Ocean Acidification Research
MBI F492
Seminar
OCN F450
Biological Oceanography
OCN F453
Zooplankton Ecology
OCN F455
Phytoplankton and Marine Microbes
STAT F461
Applied Multivariate Statistics
Total Credits41-44
4

MBI F482 or MBI F499 will serve as the capstone experience for the marine biology concentration.

5

Note that courses cannot be used to satisfy requirements in more than one marine biology concentration category.

Oceanography

Credits
Oceanography Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
OCN F315Marine Geological Drama and Undersea Catastrophes3
OCN F419Ocean Circulation3
OCN F425Subarctic Oceanography Field Course3
OCN F433Integrative Oceanography1
or OCN F492 Seminar
OCN F450Biological Oceanography3
OCN F460Chemical Oceanography3
OCN F481The Ocean and Global Change 63
or OCN F499 Senior Thesis
Complete 10 credits from the following:10
OCN F433
Integrative Oceanography
OCN F453
Zooplankton Ecology
OCN F455
Phytoplankton and Marine Microbes
OCN F459
Computer Programming for Scientific Applications
OCN F463
Chemical Coastal Processes
OCN F492
Seminar
Complete 12 credits of electives from marine biology, oceanography, fisheries or complementary STEM courses (e.g., BIOL, CHEM, GEOS, MATH, NRM, PHYS, STAT, WLF), of which 9 credits must be upper division. 12
Total Credits41
6

OCN F481 or OCN F499 will serve as the capstone experience for the oceanography concentration.

Catalog Department Overview ►

Roadmaps

Roadmaps provide suggested semester-by-semester study plans for programs and are based on full-time enrollment, unless otherwise specified.

  • This roadmap should be used in conjunction with regular academic advising sessions. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor or mentor each semester.
  • Certain courses and milestones must be completed in the specified semester to ensure on-time graduation.
  • Transfer credits may affect the roadmap.
  • Requirements, course availability, and sequencing may change.
  • Courses marked with (*) are recommended.

Without Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F115X74BIOL F116X74 
CHEM F105X174CHEM F106X174 
FISH/MBI/OCN F102201FISH F103202 
FISH F110203LS F101X151 
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:63-4 
  
  
 15 14-15 
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
OCN F211203MBI F212203FISH F39020,251
STAT F200X163General Education Requirement - Humanities3 
Concentration Course3Concentration Course3 
Complete one of the following:13Concentration Course3 
Complete one of the following:13 
 
 
Complete one of the following:43 
 
  
 15 15 1
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F371 or MBI F32020,253-4BIOL F260204 
OCN F30320,253NRM F303X (*)11,253 
Concentration Course3Concentration Course3 
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3Concentration Course253 
Complete one of the following:204Concentration Course253 
  
  
  
 16-17 16 
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ANS F161X (*)2,83Concentration Course253 
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3Concentration Course253 
Concentration Course253Concentration Course253 
Concentration Course253Concentration Course252 
Complete one of the following:203-4Complete one of the following:20,21,253 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 15-16 14 
Total Credits 121-124

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Fisheries Science Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F115X74BIOL F116X74 
CHEM F105X174CHEM F106X174 
FISH/MBI/OCN F102201FISH F103202 
FISH F110203LS F101X151 
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:63-4 
  
  
 15 14-15 
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
FISH F261223FISH F288223FISH F39020,251
OCN F211203MBI F212203 
STAT F200X163General Education Requirement - Humanities3 
Complete one of the following:13Concentration Course3 
Complete one of the following:13 
 
 
Complete one of the following:43 
 
  
 15 15 1
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
BIOL F371 or MBI F32020,253-4BIOL F260204FISH F315 or F41422,253
FISH F425, F426, F428, or F43322,253FISH F42722,254 
OCN F30320,253NRM F303X (*)11,253 
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3Concentration Course3 
Complete one of the following:204  
  
  
  
 16-17 14 3
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
ANS F161X (*)2,83Concentration Course253 
FISH F41122,253Concentration Course253 
General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3Concentration Course4 
Concentration Course253Complete one of the following:21,22,253 
Complete one of the following:20,253-4 
 
  
 15-16 13 
Total Credits 121-124

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Marine Biology Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F115X74BIOL F116X74 
CHEM F105X174CHEM F106X174 
FISH/MBI/OCN F102201FISH F103202 
FISH F110203LS F101X151 
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:63-4 
  
  
 15 14-15 
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
OCN F211203MBI F212203FISH F39020,251
STAT F200X163MBI F219222 
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3MBI F317 (*)22,253 
Complete one of the following:13General Education Requirement - Humanities3 
Complete one of the following:222-3 
 
 
Complete one of the following:43 
 
 
 Complete one of the following:13 
  
  
  
  
 15 16-17 1
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F371 or MBI F32020,253-4BIOL F260204 
MBI F412 (*)22,253FISH F427 (*)22,254 
MBI F421 (*)22,253NRM F303X (*)11,253 
OCN F450 (*)22,253OCN F455 (*)22,253 
Complete one of the following:204  
  
  
  
 16-17 14 
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
MBI F410 (*)22,253ANS F161X (* )2,83 
MBI F415 (*)22,253General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3 
OCN F30320,253Concentration Course253 
OCN F453 (*)22,253Concentration Course253 
Complete one of the following:20,253-4Complete one of the following:21,22,253 
 
 
 15-16 15 
Total Credits 121-125

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Oceanography Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F115X74BIOL F116X74 
CHEM F105X174CHEM F106X174 
FISH/MBI/OCN F102201FISH F103202 
FISH F110203LS F101X151 
WRTG F111X13Complete one of the following:63-4 
  
  
 15 14-15 
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
OCN F211203MBI F212203FISH F39020,251
STAT F200X163General Education Requirement - Humanities3 
Complete one of the following:13Concentration Course3 
Concentration Course253 
Complete one of the following:13 
 
Complete one of the following:43 
 
 
Complete one of the following:224  
  
  
 16 15 1
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
BIOL F371 or MBI F32020,253-4BIOL F260204 
OCN F30320,253NRM F303X (*)11,253 
OCN F31522,253OCN F46022,253 
OCN F45022,253OCN F463 (*)22,253 
Complete one of the following:204General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3 
  
  
  
 16-17 16 
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
OCN F41922,253ANS F161X (*)2,83 
OCN F42522,253OCN F433 or F49222,251 
OCN F453 (*)22,253OCN F455 (*)22,253 
Complete one of the following:21,22,253General Education Requirement - Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences3 
Concentration Course253 
Concentration Course253 
Complete one of the following:20,253-4  
  
  
 15-16 16 
Total Credits 124-127

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Catalog Department Overview ►

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes are specific, measurable statements that define the knowledge and skills students will gain by the end of the program.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  • Develop strong critical thinking and oral and written communication skills
  • Demonstrate core knowledge of fisheries and/or marine sciences (i.e., marine biology and oceanography)
  • Exhibit entry-level employment skills through experiential learning
  • Prepare to compete successfully for admission to graduate programs or career positions in fisheries, marine sciences or their chosen fields